Category: script writer

Screenwriters often define their characters in two key ways; via their dramatic function such as protagonist or antagonist. and by their personality traits such as kindness, selfishness or generosity. However, we can also enhance our screenwriting by paying attention to character speech patterns. This is not just their dialog (actual words spoken), but more the way…

Good question. Screenwriters have typically thought of characters as human beings. After that, they can beasts such as King Kong and Godzilla, robots such as Chappie, I Robot and Ex Machina, or even aliens, such as err… Alien and Arrival. So far, so good. Your screenwriting survives. The characters in your screenplay are living beings of…

The screenwriting journey for both your main characters and your audience should be filled with twists and turns; ups and downs. Screenwriters are taught to raise the stakes for their characters to create excitement, tension, intrigue and anxiety. This is more than simply putting multiple obstacles in the path of the main characters in your…

The main character in screenwriting is often referred to as the hero. They differ from the main characters or protagonist in a film, because they must display great strength and courage to battle intense danger. They are more than fighters who battle the bad guys. They are selfless warriors who play the long game. Traditional Heroes…

The first and last pages of your screenplay should arguably be the most memorable. They represent the first taste of your film which draws the reader and in, and the final impression. Here are some different types of endings you may consider: BOOK END ENDING This is an unusual type of ending where the final scene…

You’ve finished your screenplay and you’re ready to organize a table read. Good for you. You’re taking your screenwriting to the next level. What do you need to do to organize a live table read? FIND A SPACE Don’t do this in a public space like a cafe or a train station. Find a quiet…

You’ve written a draft of your screenplay. It’s time for some constructive feedback. The simplest route is to show it to a few other screenwriters and get verbal or written comments. Table reads are another effective way to evaluate the strength of your screenwriting from actors and an audience.

Screenwriters are told to have two key types of screenplays in their arsenal. Spec scripts and original screenplays. Hands up if you know the difference between the two. For those of you who didn’t raise their hands, here are the answers: 1) ORIGINAL SCRIPT I’m sure you can guess what this means. Any screenplay that…

As part of my efforts to help screenwriters break into this ever-changing industry, I’ve recruited the help of Lee Jessup, Screenwriter Career Coach Extraordinaire to share her thoughts. Unlike other industries which have experienced various levels of disruption, the screenwriting world has experienced a radical change. The film and TV industries have always been classed…

Every screenwriter should keep the exposition in their screenwriting to a minimum. Those long, drawn out chunks of dialogue that explain stuff. Too much information bogs down your screenplay and annoys the reader.

Writing a screenplay is a tough disciple; especially when screenwriters are developing their characters. We observe people all the time so you’d think it would be relatively easy, right? Good guys do good things and the bad guys to bad things to stop them. This is true most of the time. Since movie characters are aggregates…

Loglines are the most common way to pitch your screenplay and get a movie producer to read your film script. What is the secret to a perfect movie script logline that will generate film producer interest? Read on.